2wd Ice Tires

[BrianP]

This is my first winter in Boulder, CO and I'm getting excellent gas mileage cause I slide EVERYWHERE!

After holding an unintentional drift at 40 mph I've decided a good set of year round tires are a must

Currently I have a set of Bridgestone Duelers 265/ 65 R17 with about 1/4 left of tread.

I don't want studded snow tires because its icy one day and dry the next.

Any recommendations???????

BFG All-terrains?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Maybe the Nitto TerraGrappler or Goodyear Duratrac.

 

[JohnsD90]

Maybe the Nitto TerraGrappler or Goodyear Duratrac.

I 2nd the nitto's, and move up to 265/70 or 265/75.

 

[Victor]

The All-Terrains will be OK in snow, look for ones with the snowflake rating. Honestly, I put my All Terrains aside for dedicated winters, my Toyo Open Country GO2's are a night and day difference on Ice bar none!

The Terra Grapplers would be horrible on ice, I experienced them in a customers Tacoma on packed snow-ice, I can't see the Duratracs being any better on Ice because all of these aformentioned tires will be hard as a rock when faced with ice. Get a dedicated good Ice-Winter tire, yes it's going to cost more but you get what you pay for. Otherwise, try holding a 50mph drift and take pictures!

 

[JohnsD90]

The All-Terrains will be OK in snow, look for ones with the snowflake rating. Honestly, I put my All Terrains aside for dedicated winters, my Toyo Open Country GO2's are a night and day difference on Ice bar none!

The Terra Grapplers would be horrible on ice, I experienced them in a customers Tacoma on packed snow-ice, I can't see the Duratracs being any better on Ice because all of these aformentioned tires will be hard as a rock when faced with ice. Get a dedicated good Ice-Winter tire, yes it's going to cost more but you get what you pay for. Otherwise, try holding a 50mph drift and take pictures!

Weird about the nitto's, i had no problems in the nittos on my previous vehicle on ice, and the taco may not have had any weight over the rear which plays a signifigant part in traction.

 

[crackiswack]

go with something like the michelin x-ice or other studless snowtires. All seasons just won't cut it on ice

 

[denverunner]

I just put some Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 (studdless) on my 4runner and so far, they have exceeded my expectations in the snow and ice. In the past, I've used studded tires on my other (2wd) vehicles, but I decided to try some Blizzaks out on the 4runner this season. They provide excellent traction while braking in snow and ice, especially in panic-brake situations. The initial acceleration grip isn't much to get excited about (in 2wd), but I don't find that nearly as important as maintaining traction while braking. They aren't noisy when the road is dry. So far, I don't have any major complaints but I've heard that Blizzaks wear down pretty quickly on dry pavement, so protect your investment and take them off in the spring.

-I bought them for 103.97 ea @ Sears in Cherry Creek.

 

[alaskaman]

tough call however if ice is THE issue X ice or Blizzak is the only way to go. both are non studded. you may want to consider moving to a 4WD when you are able. makes a world of difference.

 

[Berry]

If you don't want studs go Blizzak!

 

[Ron Helmuth]

a 2wd 3rd gen in Boulder? say it ain't so

The Nittos do great on the ice when they are new-

but yes if you want a true snow and ice tire get the Blizzaks

 

[Martinjmpr]

a 2wd 3rd gen in Boulder? say it ain't so

I know, he must have the only 2wd 4runner in Colorado!

Seriously, I drove a 2wd Ford Ranger pickup in Laramie, WY from 2000 - 2003 so it can be done with good tires and a healthy dose of common sense.

Remember that you can also legally run studs in CO from November to April. If you're buying a new set of tires, find out how much extra to get them studded. Then run those until April and keep your old tires to put back on in the Summer.

I've heard people say this is going to be a snowy winter (maybe even as bad as 2006-07 when we got 9 blizzards in 8 weeks) so get prepared now!

And if you get tired of sliding around, you might want to consider selling your 2wd and getting a 4wd. However, you'd probably be more successful going back down to AZ to sell the 2wd.

 

[theizzardking]

The Nittos do great on the ice when they are new-

but yes if you want a true snow and ice tire get the Blizzaks

x4 on the blizzaks , just don;t expect them to last to long if you try running them during the spring and fall as well, they are a very soft rubber and that help with the traction but also has a very low wear factor. so pretty much to get the most life outta this tire you got to only run it on the snow, best case scenario. not saying running them on dry pavement will shred them instantly or anything but just wear them down quicker.

 

[theizzardking]

I've heard people say this is going to be a snowy winter (maybe even as bad as 2006-07 when we got 9 blizzards in 8 weeks) so get prepared now!
.

really in an el nino year? farmer almanac's has predicted a mild winter due to the el nino, our mountain passes are actually loosing hella snow right now with rain @ 5,200ft, very unusual for this time of year, last el nino i was working as a ski instructor up here and the pass was giving us all top ramen and white bread to live on becuase there was no snow and no snow means no money, no money means no food, lol.....trust me i really really hope i'm wrong....

 

[theizzardking]

el nino-

North America
Regional impacts of warm ENSO episodes (El Niño).
See also: Effects of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation in the United States

In North America, El Niño creates warmer-than-average winters in the upper Midwest states and the Northeast. Meanwhile, central and southern California, northwest Mexico and the southwestern U.S. become significantly wetter while the northern Gulf of Mexico states, Southeast states and northeast Mexico are wetter and cooler than average during the El Niño phase of the oscillation.[21][22] Summer is wetter in the intermountain regions of the U.S. The Pacific Northwest states, on the other hand, tend to experience dry, mild but foggy winters and warm, sunny and early springs.

In Canada, both warmer and drier winters (due to forcing of the Polar Jet further north) occur with warmer and less stormy summers, although relatively little variation is seen in the Maritime Provinces. However, it is believed that the ice-storm in January 1998, which devastated parts of Southern Ontario and Southern Quebec, may have been caused or at least accentuated by El Nino's warming effects.[23]

El Niño is also associated with increased wave-caused coastal erosion along the United States Pacific Coast.

 

[AK Kilted Guy]

I live in Fairbanks, Alaska and drive in ice/snow from September-April. If you don't want to run studs, then Blizzaks or even better Nokian Kakkapelitta R SUV
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R SUV

Either one is best taken off when the roads dry up though, as best to preserve tire life.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

Iv'e said it before and ill say it again I love my grabber AT2's the other day i literetly dove straight up a mountain no road just lots of snow, i also dove all over and around it. They are amazing! In the ice they are pretty dang good too. i haven't slipped that much in the ice driving around here in utah. i useually don't have my 4 wheel drive in either. For your truck being 2 wheel they may be good because these babies have the option to put studs in them if you want. they have little holes in the tread so that your can put them in there and have more grip. One more thing is they look almost exactly like the BFG A/T's but have more sipes therefor giving better traction in the slick stuff. Love them and will get them again!